=========================================== || || 28th September 2022 || || News of Lincolnshire Wildlife || || LNU Website: http://lnu.org/ || Twitter feed: https://twitter.com/LincsNaturalist? || Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/lincsnaturalists/ || ============================================ In this issue..... 1. Information, events, news and requests - mostly local. 2. Wildlife Highlights from Rare Bird Alert. 3. Wildlife reports around the county - contributions welcome... 4. NNRs, RSPB and LWT Reserves/Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe. 5. Bardney Limewoods NNR - Chambers Farm Wood. 6. Other Reserve Reports - links and highlights. 7. Sending in Bulletin Reports - contributors please read! 8. Contact information - recorders and specialists... 9. Notes about these wildlife reports. 10. Bulletin publicity policy. 11. Events Diary - what's on. 12. ...and finally. Mostly national/international wildlife stories. ============================================ Reports here are open. They are available to county recorders of the Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union; the Lincolnshire Bird Club and Lincolnshire Environmental Record Centre [LERC]. Past Bulletins archive [text] from 2009: compare past years... http://rogerparsons.info/bulletinportal.html Views expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union or associated organisations. Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. ============================================ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1. INFORMATION, EVENTS, NEWS AND REQUESTS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Editor writes: Ray Halstead and I went to recce Epworth Turbary yesterday, meeting up with Matt Cox and Geoff Trinder, who knows the reserve very well indeed! We found a reasonable range of species, so it's looking good for October. The post code given on the Field Meetings website got us to the LWT members' entrance - but we are advised by Matt to use an alternative parking arrangement for the LNU meeting. "The reserve 'car park' as referred to on the website is not usable or safe for any more than a couple of vehicles, so I had suggested ...that I would make special arrangements for our management access gate to be used for the occasion to accommodate the groups' vehicles safely away from the public highway. (SE75366 04219) This is located at the North-Western corner of the reserve and accessed from the Wroot Road along the Private Road to Sandhill Farm which traces the East and North boundaries of the SSSI." The LNU Foray will be taking place at 9th October: Epworth Turbary LWT Reserve https://lnu.org/meetings/field-meetings/2022-10-09-epworth-turbary-lwt-reserve-sunday-9th-october/ Check the LNU events web page for updates or cancellations: https://lnu.org/meetings/ The Wolds Fungi Group. We had a good selection of species on 27th Sept. at College Wood. Details of Forays - Autumn 2022 is given below for October and November. Please let Paul Nichol know if you plan to attend so he knows who to expect. This week's links to Lincolnshire and wildlife-related news stories. More general links in "..and finally ..." at the end of the Bulletin. East Heckington: A17 closed due to farm shop fire https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-63048814 Grimsby hospital cancels routine operations over high demand' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-63045646 Scunthorpe: Row over £1m green space branded 'vast waste of money' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-63049866 Hogsthorpe caravan park plans withdrawn https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-63020273 City of Culture 2029: Lincolnshire councils consider joint bid https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-63008222 Fracking ban lifted, government announces https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-62982332 Rural areas hit harder by cost-of-living crisis, study finds https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-62983030 Frozen Planet: Filming climate change in action on an Arctic glacier https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-62925833 Please stay informed on current Co-19 and 'flu advice, adapting appropriately to future changes at indoor meetings and in the field. If you have any event postponements or changes please let us know. Thank you for all the interesting news links, wildlife events information and useful species reports. Please keep your information coming in. Roger old.museum@yahoo.co.uk - note - my best address for emails. *** Support for Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union *** Most Bulletin readers will be supporters of one or more "natural history" charities. Such organisations may experience financial pressures as difficult economic factors come into play this winter. What we do for our favourite good causes is a personal matter, but we can be sure our help will be needed. You will find "good causes" listed in every LNU Bulletin in Section 8. Local wildlife charities do need supporters and welcome new members. If you are not yet an LNU member please would you consider the possibility of joining? https://lnu.org/join-the-lnu/ *** Weather Forecast *** https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/ https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/warnings-and-advice/uk-warnings#? 2- 11 October "A mixture of sunny spells and showers or longer periods of rain are expected at the start of October. Showers are likely to be heaviest and most frequent across the north and whilst southern and eastern areas may see some rain at times, these areas likely seeing the best of the drier conditions. Winds generally light, but strong in the north and along eastern coasts. Later in the period, we may see a shift towards drier and more settled weather. Some spells of wetter weather remain likely at times; these are most probable in the northwest but could possibly spread to other areas too. Temperatures likely to be close to average throughout or perhaps slightly above average by the end of the period." *** For Astronomers and Sky-watchers *** Dimorphos: Nasa flies spacecraft into asteroid in direct hit https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-63039191 Storm Ian delays launch of Nasa's Artemis I Moon rocket https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/63022093 Jodrell Bank Monthly Night Sky Guide http://www.jb.man.ac.uk/astronomy/nightsky/ SkyatNight month-by-month guide to locating the planets throughout 2022 https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/advice/skills/astronomy-guide-viewing-planets-night-sky/ Stellarium. The FREE open source planetarium for your computer. http://stellarium.org/ *** Chambers Farm Wood - Butterfly Garden *** The volunteers at the Butterfly Garden meet on the first and third Tuesday of the month from February to November. It's a great opportunity to meet other gardeners and wildlife enthusiasts, and to work in a lovely setting. If you are interested in joining us, we would welcome new volunteers. Just pop along for a chat, or contact Margaret Westcott, 01205 750719. We are meeting on Tuesday 4th and 18th October, 9.30 - 3pm. https://butterfly-conservation.org/in-your-area/lincolnshire-branch/chambers-farm-wood-butterfly-garden *** Hedgehog Links *** https://hedgehogcare.org.uk/ https://www.britishhedgehogs.org.uk/found-a-hedgehog/ https://www.hedgehogstreet.org/ *** Bat advice from Annette Falkner *** If you find a grounded bat please don't try and release it. Put it in an escape proof box. Remember, a pipistrelle can get out of a hole the size of your thumb nail. Wear gloves or use a cloth to pick it up with. Phone us on 01775 766286. We'll do the rest. Bat reports are always welcome: details and Grid References please. *** The Wolds Fungi Group - Programme of Forays Autumn 2022 *** Anyone thinking of attending any of the forays should contact Paul Nichol beforehand please, so he has a rough idea of who may be turning up. pnichol20@gmail.com The aim of field meetings is to have an enjoyable day out looking for and learning how to identify mushrooms & toadstools that are to be found in Lincolnshire and to record the fungi and understand their ecology. Our records will be passed onto the County recorder for fungi and further to National databases. Foraging for edible fungi is not an aim of the group. Forays start at 10.00am and last for 2 to 3 hours. Please bring along a plastic box (no carrier bags!) if you wish to collect specimens a penknife is useful for removing fungi on wood and a culinary fork for prizing specimens out of the litter. Some sort of hand lens is always useful as is a note book to record your observations. A list of our records for a foray will be provided for those who want them. Tuesday Oct. 4th Wickenby Wood, Wickenby. Meet and park on the roadside verge at the entrance to the wood on the Faldingworth to Wickenby Rd at TF082828 Post code LN3 5AN Tuesday Oct. 11th Whisby Nature Park, Thorpe on the Hill Lincoln. Meet in the car park at the nature park SK911661 Post code LN6 9BW Saturday Oct. 29th Walesby Moor, Market Rasen. Meet and park at Grid ref TF114908 which is beyond Walesby Woodland Caravan Park. Carry on past the caravan park for about 200m and car park on left. Saturday Nov 5th Theddlethorpe dunes, Theddlethorpe St Helen. Meet in the car park at the end of Brickyard Lane TF482891 Post code LN12 1NR *** Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust Area Groups webpage *** Please let me have your "plugs" for coming events. https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/area-groups *** Grimsby & Cleethorpes Area Group LWT *** On Monday 10th October 2022 you are welcome to join us for our indoor meeting where Abby Armitage will be giving us an outline of the Dynamic Dunes Project, sand dune lifecycle and habitats and tell us what the project is doing for Lincolnshire. This will take place in Grimsby Town Hall DN31 1HXand starts at 7.30 pm. Admission £3. Tea & coffee will be available. For further details please contact Jennie Redpath 01472 502858 *** RSPB Grimsby Local Group *** The RSPB Grimsby Local Group has a new website https://group.rspb.org.uk/grimsby/ Martin Francis writes: The RSPB Grimsby Local Group's next Trip is to Gibraltar Point on Sunday 2nd October (This is a change from the previously published date) when it is expected that migrants on their journey South will still be passing through and the numbers of wintering duck will be starting to build up. There is a cafe and toilets at the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust Visitor Centre Travel to Gibraltar Point is by 'car share' so if you would like to go, just contact Sally Prescott (sally.prescott142@btinternet.com or 01472 840142) to let her know that you would like a lift, or that you have a spare seat(s), and for more details of the meeting place and time. The next Indoor Meeting is on Monday 17th October at 7.30pm - Matthew Capper, "Florida - the Sunshine State" The talk takes place at Holy Trinity Parish Hall, Grimsby Road, Cleethorpes, DN35 7LH Entry for everybody is £4, payable at the door. Light refreshments and a raffle will be available There will also be a 'car share' Trip to Spurn point (Kilnsea) on Sunday 23rd October. Just let Sally (Details above) know if you would like to go All the Group's activities are open to everybody - you do not need to belong to the RSPB, or to have attended Group Meetings to take part. We look forward to seeing you on the Trips and/or at the Indoor Meeting Martin Francis Group Leader - RSPB Grimsby Local Group" *** Seal and Birdwatching Cruises 2022 - South Lincs RSPB Group *** 14 cruises have been arranged for 2022, at various sailing times, ending on 22nd October. All cruises are aboard 'The Boston Belle', last for 4/5 hours, and start [and return] at Boston's Grand Sluice Lock, sailing up The Haven, into The Wash and also along The Welland. 64 bird species on average have been previously seen per cruise. Full details as regards dates, sailing times, costs, booking arrangements: https://ww2.rspb.org.uk/groups/southlincolnshire/ STAYING SAFE Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. Lyme Disease reminder https://www.hse.gov.uk/agriculture/zoonoses-data-sheets/lyme-disease.pdf Road works and hold-ups https://roadworks.org/ Met Office Severe Warnings https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/warnings-and-advice/uk-warnings Met Office Severe Weather E-mail Service - sign up. http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/about-us/guide-to-emails EasyTide http://easytide.ukho.gov.uk/EasyTide/EasyTide/index.aspx Sewage pollution of beaches SAS link: https://www.sas.org.uk/map/ Environment Agency Flood Warnings - Lincolnshire https://flood-warning-information.service.gov.uk/warnings?location=lincolnshire Environment Agency Flood Information/Floodline - sign up https://www.gov.uk/sign-up-for-flood-warnings ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 2. WILDLIFE HIGHLIGHTS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** Bird News from Rare Bird Alert *** Rare Bird Alert has kindly given permission to reproduce reports. A big thank you from us all. Interested readers should have a look at the RBA website: http://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/ For RBA's excellent articles: https://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/RealData/Articles.asp 20/9 Bittern on East Pit, Deeping Lakes, Deeping St James 10 Little Stints, 2 Curlew Sandpipers, Spotted Redshank, Cattle Egret, Frampton Marsh 3 Spotted Redshanks on The Mere, Pied Flycatcher trapped and ringed in East Dunes, Common Rosefinch and probable Blyth's Reed warbler south of Mill Hill, Gibraltar Point Caspian Gull 1w along seafront/festival car par, Skegness Great Northern Diver on sea, Sutton-on-Sea Yellow-browed Warbler along track to pit, 2 Curlew Sandpipers, Huttoft Yellow-browed Warbler, Sandilands, north of Huttoft Car Terrace 21/9 2 Cattle Egrets at Wader Pit, Baston + Langtoft GPs Spotted Redshank, Gibraltar Point Hawfinch flew south over car park, appeared to land in dunes, Saltfleetby Spoonbill flew over Anderby Creek Yellow-browed Warbler by track to pit, 4 Curlew Sandpipers, Huttoft Bank Pit Richard's Pipit on south side, Covenham reservoir 2 Spotted Redshanks, Read's Island Osprey, Crowle 22/9 3 Little Stints, 3 Curlew Sandpipers, Frampton Marsh 2 Little Stints from Mere hide, Black-throated Diver, Scaup, 2 Yellow- browed Warblers, 1 near north car park in East Dunes, 1 along Aylmer Ave, Lapland Bunting flew over Mill Hill, Gibraltar Point Osprey at Medge Hall at Crowle + Keadby Canal, Crowle Garganey, Manby Flashes 23/9 2 Yellow-browed Warblers, 1 near Aylmer Ave, 1 in East Dunes, 23 Yellow-browed Warblers, Pied Flycatchers, 2 Little Stints from Mere hide, Spotted Redshank, Gibraltar Point Yellow-browed Warbler at Churchill Lane car park, at pond in evening, Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe Curlew Sandpiper juv at Novartis Ings, Pyewipe 24/9 Nightjar roosting along path between Visitor Centre and reservoir, Frampton Marsh Pomarine Skua flew past, Ring Ouzel in West Dunes, 5 Spotted Redshanks, 2 Little Stints, Curlew Sandpiper, Gibraltar Point Long-tailed Skua juv pale morph on Humber, East Halton 25/9 21 Curlew Sandpipers, 11 Little Stints, 5 Spotted Redshanks, Frampton Marsh Pectoral Sandpiper on Shooters Pool, Freiston Shore Honey Buzzard over, 3 Yellow-browed Warblers, Ring Ouzel at Mill Hill, Snow Bunting on beach, Gibraltar Point Yellow-browed Warbler in pines by viewing screen, Huttoft Bank Pacific Golden Plover flew over, Yellow-browed Warbler north of Stonebridge Car Park, Donna Nook 26/9 Yellow-browed Warbler, Gibraltar Point Little Stint, Huttoft Bank Pit 27/9 3+ Little Stints, 2+ Curlew Sandpipers, 7 escaped Red-breasted Geese, 2 ads +3 juvs, both ads ringed, Frampton Marsh Pectoral Sandpiper on Shooters Pool, Freiston Shore Pomarine Skua, Spotted Redshank, Tetney Marshes ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 3. WILDLIFE NEWS FROM AROUND THE COUNTY ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** The Roger Goy Column *** Remembering Roger Goy's wildlife information work and drop-in sessions. Roger died on 6th March 2009 at the age of 61. *** Find the Grid Reference - don't forget - it's important *** Grab a Grid Reference: https://www.bnhs.co.uk/focuson/grabagridref/html/index.htm UK Grid Reference Finder: http://www.gridreferencefinder.com/ *** Links "not to be missed" *** Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. Len Pick Trust Barn Owls - box usually empty now... https://www.lenpicktrust.org.uk/owl-project Gibraltar Point Bird Observatory blog: http://gibraltarpointbirdobservatory.blogspot.co.uk/ Lincs Bird Club: https://www.lincsbirdclub.co.uk/site/index.php/sightings/latest-news Butterfly Conservation - Lincolnshire Branch: https://butterfly-conservation.org/in-your-area/lincolnshire-branch/ Which moth species might be on the wing tonight in your area? https://butterfly-conservation.org/moths/whats-flying-tonight Atlas of the terrestrial and semi-aquatic Mammals of Lincolnshire by C. J. Manning, LNU Mammal Recorder. You can download and print off a hard copy or view it online. https://lincsnaturalist.files.wordpress.com/2021/06/mammalatlas.pdf VC54 North Lincolnshire Plant List - LNU Paul Kirby has produced a list of all the vascular plant & stonewort taxa with records on the MapMate botanical database. This is for VC54, North Lincolnshire, at the end of January 2017. Download this on: https://lnu.org/specialists/vascular-plants/ Record Pool - recommended by Ashley Butterfield as an easy way to record your amphibian and reptile species records. https://www.recordpool.org.uk/index.php ROAD KILLS? PLEASE LET US KNOW. Every drive is a transect! Hedgehogs? Badgers? Otters? Reports welcome. *** County Wildlife Reports From Readers *** Thanks to our regular contributors across the county. Much appreciated. We rely on readers to send in their observations and welcome records from everyone, experts or beginners. Please keep your reports coming. BARDNEY - The Green R & A Parsons TF120694 Suede Boletes are still coming up, in garden "gravel" as well as the lawn. BOSTON GARDEN September 2022 Roy and Kathleen Pearson Bats We regularly saw 2 bats in the garden during the summer, but on our return from holiday this week we discovered that many of the trees behind our house and facing the A16 and Marsh Lane Roundabout had been removed, presumably to provide room for road enlargement. This is the place which we assumed was useful for the bats that have now disappeared from our garden. GRIMSBY TA265095 Joyce Attia 26/09/22 Roadkill 18th September Badger. A16 going south, a bit before the Fotherby turn off. 15th September Grey squirrel on wall at end of garden. Went to put water in birdbath, squirrel was on bird feeder, had also pinched the apple. 3 great tits on feeder, +5 sparrows. Collared dove on birdbath. 19th Sept. Woodpigeon on birdbath. 4 great tits on feeder. Walk down Riverside, 1 swan alone, pair of swans and 9 juveniles, 2 mallards, 1 moorhen, flock of sparrows feeding on willow herb seeds. 20th September Grey squirrel on bird feeder . Woodpigeon in birdbath, bathing for at least 10 minutes, the water was really greasy, major clean up of bird bath. 22nd September. Sparrows on feeder. Grey squirrel on wall 25th September. Walk down riverside, one moorhen, no sign of swans, a few woodpigeons and a grey squirrel. In the garden blue tit on feeder, also sparrows. There seems to be a shortage of our regular visitors to the bird table this year, no goldfinches, greenfinches, wrens, robins or dunnocks. Hopefully they will come back in the winter. 26th September. 10 geese flying west , too high up to see what they were. I accidentally walked into a large cobweb this morning. I'm sorry spider. But who has hung from leaf to leaf, From flower to flower, a silken twine- A cloud of grey that holds the dew In globes of clear enchanted wine? Dora Sigerson Shorter. 'The Watcher in the Wood' MARKET RASEN Stuart Britton writes on 21/9/2022 My wife and I were on a cycle ride past Market Rasen Golf Club when I saw something moving on the road. I stopped and was delighted to see an immature Slow Worm making its way onto the protected roadside verge beside Linwood Warren. In 40 years of visiting Linwood Warren this is only the fourth I have seen so I was absolutely delighted. On the bird front I ringed my 100th Goldfinch of the year in my Market Rasen garden yesterday. SANDILANDS Ian Whitaker 26/09/22 Twite - 12-15 on beach between Sandilands and Huttoft Car Terrace SEDGE HOLE CLOSE LWT Nature Reserve Steve Hiner 14.09.22 Blackbird x 1 Blue Tit x 4 Chaffinch x 2 Carrion Crow x 4 Goldfinch x 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker x 1 Greylag Goose x 23 over Jackdaw x 3 Robin x 1 Wood Pigeon x 4 SPALDING Our allotment TF228219 Annette and Colin Faulkner Adult brown rat drowned in the water butt, presumably having fallen off the shed roof or gutter, and fished out 26/9/22, bloated and smelly. THURNHOLMES (within 300m of SK797984 unless stated) Steve Hiner & Paul Snow 13.09.22 Blackbird x 1 Black-headed Gull x 25 over Thurnholmes Blue Tit x 2 Carrion Crow x 2 Chaffinch x 4 Goldfinch x 6 Great Spotted Woodpecker x 1 Great Tit x 2 Pied Wagtail x 1 Robin x 1 Stock Dove x 2 + 1 sat on nest in box in chicken run Tawny Owl x 1 calling 01:45hrs Wood Pigeon x 2 Wren x 1 Small White x 3 14.09.22 Hairy Shieldbug x 9 on Sunflower heads Harlequin Ladybird larve x 15 on coppiced willow 18.09.22 Barn Owl x 1 01:15hrs Blackbird x 6 Carrion Crow x 2 Chaffinch x 12 Common Buzzard x 1 Dunnock x 2 Goldfinch x 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker x 1 Green Woodpecker x 1 (first time recorded on my site) Heron x 1 over Thurnholmes Jackdaw x 4 Kestrel x 1 Linnet x 16 Magpie x 1 Pied Wagtail x 2 Robin x 1 Stock Dove x 1 Swallow x 15 gathered up on wires Tawny Owl x 2 calling 01:30hrs Tree Sparrow x 6 Wood Pigeon x 4 19.09.22 Bronze Shieldbug x 6 nymph on Sunflower heads Hairy Shieldbug x 9 on Sunflower heads Harlequin Ladybird larve x 29 on coppiced willow 20.09.22 Barn Owl x 1 21:10hrs Blackbird x 1 Black-headed Gull x 12 over Thurnholmes Chiffchaff x 1 calling Common Buzzard x 1 Goldfinch x 4 Speckled Wood x 2 Ruby Tiger x 1 22.09.22 Small White x 2 Speckled Wood x 1 Migrant Hawker x 2 23.09.22 Barn Owl x 1 Blackbird x 2 Chaffinch x 2 Common Buzzard x 1 Goldfinch x 2 Jackdaw x 2 Kestrel x 1 Magpie x 2 Robin x 1 Tawny Owl x 1 calling 01:20hrs Wood Pigeon x 2 26.09.22 Blackbird x 6 Carrion Crow x 2 Chaffinch x 2 Common Buzzard x 1 Dunnock x 3 Goldfinch x 4 Great Spotted Woodpecker x 1 seen or heard every day for a week Grey Partridge x 16 Kestrel x 1 Linnet x 6 Magpie x 2 Robin x 1 Stock Dove x 1 on nest Tree Sparrow x 4 Tawny Owl x 1 calling 00:20hrs Wood Pigeon x 2 Wren x 2 Hairy Shieldbug x 4 on Sunflower heads ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 4. NNRs and NATURE RESERVES ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust's policy on Coronavirus, Covid-19 includes details of LWT reserves and other advice and information: https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/coronavirus Gibraltar Point Bird Observatory blog: http://gibraltarpointbirdobservatory.blogspot.co.uk/ LWT Reserves List: https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/nature-reserves-list RSPB Frampton Marsh: http://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/seenature/reserves/guide/f/framptonmarsh/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SALTFLEETBY THEDDLETHORPE DUNES NNR including DONNA NOOK http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/reserves/saltfleetby-theddlethorpe-dunes https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/top-reserves/donna-nook Visitor Leaflet - Natural England http://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/publication/38015?category=59026 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR Report 21st - 27th September 2022 Contributors: - Peter & Janet Roworth, John Walker, Matt Blissett, Ruth Taylor, Owen Beaumont, Phil Hyde, Geoff Williams and Chris Atkin Daily news and wildlife sightings: 210922 - At least 1200 pink-footed geese flew north in the morning, which are presumed to be birds which have overshot their favoured wintering areas and are reorientating back north to get to them. 300 golden plover on farmland adjacent to the NNR. Hawfinch, treecreeper and Cetti's warbler seen in the dunes around Crook Bank. 220922 - 2 chiffchaff singing again on territories held back in early April. 500 pink-footed geese roosting on the foreshore near Churchill Lane. Stonechat near Sea View and at least 8 wall brown seen, all of which looked in good condition and will be from the 3rd generation of this year. 100+ common scoter on the sea out from Brickyard Lane. 230922 - Yellow-browed warbler in hawthorns in the dunes south of Churchill Lane. The same (or another?) yellow-browed warbler seen close to Churchill Lane car park later in the day. 270+ common scoter and 1 red-throated diver on the sea out from Brickyard Lane. Between Sea View and MOD were 6 stonechat, 1 lesser whitethroat, 2 blackcap, 10 chiffchaff, 2 whimbrel and 3 marsh harrier. 1 snipe and 1 swallow over at Churchill Lane. 240922 - Great Eau Outfall 78 teal and 17 wigeon on Paradise lagoon. 250922 - Yellow-browed warbler briefly near Brickyard Lane. Some light migrant movement in the morning at Crook Bank included 10 redwing, 3 brambling and pink-footed geese moving both north and south. Treecreeper and 5 goldcrest in the dunes at Crook Bank. Sea View Washland: 27 teal, 6 wigeon and 2 common snipe. On Rimac lagoon at least 100 teal. 260922 - A seawatch out from Rimac included 4 gannet south, 1 arctic skua north and 2 red-throated diver on the sea. On saltmarsh: 127 wigeon, 30 mallard, 21 little egrets, c1200 black-headed gulls, 5 shelduck. Hunting over were 2 marsh harriers and a short-eared owl. Paradise lagoon: 83 teal and 4 shoveler. Single swallow south over Sea View. Other local reserves 220922 - Tetney Blow Wells: 2 Cetti's warblers singing 230922 - Welton-le-Wold: Red kite and skein of pink-footed geese flew over Muckton Wood: Chiffchaff singing Fir Hill Quarry: Jay heard ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 5. BARDNEY LIMEWOODS NNR These cover a huge area. Records from them are one of the main inputs to management planning and the protection of rare/scarce and critical species. Reports always welcome. The history of the Lincolnshire Limewoods https://www.forestryjournal.co.uk/features/19111877.lincolnshire-limewoods/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Forestry Commission visitor advice: https://www.forestryengland.uk/article/coronavirus-visitor-guide Butterfly Conservation Lincolnshire Branch. https://butterfly-conservation.org/300/lincolnshire-branch.html Lincolnshire Dormouse Group You can get in touch via lincsdormousegroup@gmail.com Lincs Dormouse Group update Gemma Watkinson writes: I have set the nest box check dates with Forestry England: last one Saturday 22nd October We meet at 9.30am for the box checks, and anyone interested in joining us on a box check should get in contact via email lincsdormousegroup@gmail.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The NNR includes the following sites: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Chambers Farm Woods (comprises Ivy Wood; Little and Great Scrubbs Woods; Minting Wood; Hatton Wood, Hatton Plantation and Minting Park; and also three areas of grassland: Little Scrubbs Meadow (and extension), Small Meadow and Big Meadow. Since all have their own management plans, please give the actual location when reporting). College Wood; Cocklode & Great West Woods; Hardy Gang Wood; Newball Wood; Rand Wood; Scotgrove Wood; Southrey Wood and Wickenby Wood. Many of these include both areas of ancient woodland or important grassland. Many are also designated Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Records which provide a six-figure grid reference are of particular value to the Forestry Commission. Other woods included in the NNR but without public access: Stainfield Wood; Stainton & Fulnetby Woods (access by public bridle way only). ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 6. OTHER RESERVE REPORTS AND HIGHLIGHTS. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ South Humber Heritage Trail, Alkborough Flats - LWT leaflet - downloadable https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/sites/default/files/2018-04/south_humber_heritage_trail_alkborough.pdf ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 7. SENDING IN BULLETIN REPORTS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The purpose of the Bulletin is to encourage biological recording in Lincolnshire. We aim to increase the number of people reporting observations to Recorders. The Bulletin is a FREE service. We ask you to provide reports, questions, news or relevant articles from time to time. Descriptive pieces are welcome.You don't have to stick to lists! Please help us to help you. When sending in reports please follow this layout to save re-editing: Place Name: IN CAPITALS with Grid Reference if you have it. Your Name: Real names please, not aliases. Put it in each time, for each location Date: Species list [Alphabetical?] & numbers [and observations?] e.g. Blackbird - 24 [And please, no home-grown abbreviations. Species Names in full.] Bulletin mailing times vary, depending on what I am doing. It usually goes out on Wednesdays/Thursdays in time for the weekend. Please e-mail in contributions as early as possible, to: old.museum@yahoo.co.uk ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 8. CONTACTS AND USEFUL WEBSITES ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ CONTACTS LIST Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. *** Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union *** LNU Website: http://lnu.org/ LNU Twitter feed: https://twitter.com/LincsNaturalist? LNU Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/lincsnaturalists/ LNU e-mail: info@lnu.org Downloads of LNU books are available on: https://lnu.org/publications/books/ On the LNU webpage on the Officers and Executive Committee you will see some new names. Several experienced naturalists have agreed to join, for which we are very appreciative. https://lnu.org/about/officers-executive/ *** Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust *** https://twitter.com/LincsWildlife *** Lincs Bird Club Website *** https://twitter.com/Lincsbirding LBC County Bird Recorder Phil Hyde - County Recorder, Lincs Bird Club recorder_south@lincsbirdclub.co.uk *** The Sir Joseph Banks Society *** https://twitter.com/sirjosephbanks *** Lincolnshire Bat Group website *** http://www.lincsbatgroup.co.uk/ *** Butterfly Conservation Lincolnshire Branch *** https://twitter.com/BC_Lincolnshire *** Lincsbirders *** https://twitter.com/lincsbirders *** Lincolnshire Chalk Streams Project *** https://lincolnshirechalkstreams.org/events/ *** South Lincolnshire Flora Group *** https://bsbi.org/south-lincolnshire-v-c-53 *** The Wolds Fungi Group *** Contact Paul Nichol via email pnichol20@gmail.com *** Lincolnshire Dormouse Group *** Contact: lincsdormousegroup@gmail.com FIGHTING WILDLIFE CRIME Rural Crime Officer Pc 160 Nick Willey Force Wildlife, Rural Crime Officer nicholas.willey@lincs.pnn.police.uk OFFICE: 01522-731897 MOBILE: 07768-501895 PAGER: 07654-330877 SPECIES IDENTIFICATION AND RECORDING Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. LNU Recorders and Specialists: https://lnu.org/specialists/ Downloads of LNU books are available on: https://lnu.org/publications/books/ Recording with "irecord" https://www.brc.ac.uk/irecord/ More and more people are using irecord. It is recommended by the LNU as an appropriate platform for on-line recording. LNU Sawflies, Bees, Wasps and Ants Recorder Dr. David Sheppard Willing to examine specimens or check photos. Bear in mind only a relative few of the 300+ species in the county are identifiable using photos. d.a.sheppard@btinternet.com Lincolnshire Mammals Chris Manning, Chris.LincsDeer@gmail.com Spiders, Pseudoscorpions, Harvestmen Imogen Wilde Regional Co-ordinator (RC) and Mentor for Lincolnshire for the British Arachnological Society (BAS). Email: Imogen@imogenwilde.co.uk Amphibians and Reptiles Ashley Butterfield The Lincolnshire ARG (Amphibian & Reptile Group) Email: LearningOutdoors@btinternet.com Local Bat Helpline Grounded bats, bat problems, advice and information. Contact Annette and Colin Faulkner on 01775 766286 Email: annettefaulkner@btinternet.com Bat rescue instructions: If you find a grounded bat please don't try and release it. Put it in an escape proof box . Remember, a pipistrelle can get out of a hole the size of your thumb nail. Wear gloves or use a cloth to pick it up with, and phone us on 01775 766286. We'll do the rest. Confidential Bat Records You may send confidential bat records direct to Annette Faulkner on: annettefaulkner@btinternet.com Slug ID Help Chris du Feu will help with slug identification. Tel: 01383 669 124 Email: chris.r.dufeu@gmail.com Non-Marine Molluscs Alex Pickwell is the LNU Recorder for Non-marine Molluscs Email: mrapickwell@gmail.com When asking for help: Please give the the very best information you can provide. If you are not sure, ask what is needed from you to confirm identification. Photographs are helpful but not every species can be identified from a photograph. When asked for further details, get back to them promptly. Don't forget a thank you for the help. That is always welcomed. USEFUL WILDLIFE LINKS Please copy and paste URLs if necessary. Lincs Environmental Records Centre Greater Lincolnshire Nature Partnership (of which LERC is a part) http://www.glnp.org.uk/ Natural England http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ InsideEcology - Online Magazine for Ecologists, Conservationists and Wildlife Professionals https://insideecology.com/ NHBS Should you need natural history equipment or books: https://www.nhbs.com/ NHM Final report on LoveLincsPlants This report along with previous progress reports can be viewed/ downloaded from the LNU website. https://lnu.org/lincolnshire-plants-past-and-future/ Collections Dataset - LNU "historic specimens" All of the LNU specimens that have been processed and digitised to date can now be viewed here: http://data.nhm.ac.uk/dataset/lincs-plants The Flora of Lincolnshire by Joan Gibbons - downloadable LNU book https://lincsnaturalist.files.wordpress.com/2017/06/the-flora-of-lincolnshire-e-joan-gibbons.pdf For the Geologists... Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. Experts warn Lincolnshire town could become new fracking zone https://www.lincolnshirelive.co.uk/news/local-news/experts-warn-lincolnshire-town-could-7620424 Lincolnshire Geodiversity Group https://www.lincswolds.org.uk/discovering/geology-1 Geology - the Collection https://www.thecollectionmuseum.com/explore/geology Geology of the Lincolnshire Wolds https://www.lincswolds.org.uk/special-features/geology The Geology of Lincolnshire - downloadable LNU book https://lnu.org/publications/books/the-geology-of-lincolnshire/ BGS webpage: Earthquakes around the UK last 60 days http://www.earthquakes.bgs.ac.uk/earthquakes/home.html BGS British geology maps - now free to explore on web http://www.bgs.ac.uk/opengeoscience/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 9. NOTES ABOUT THESE WILDLIFE REPORTS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ We do our best to ensure accuracy in our reporting. However, records are sent in by a variety of reporters; from complete beginners to professionals. They may vary in reliability and occasionally may be difficult or impossible to verify. If further information is needed please contact: old.museum@yahoo.co.uk Bulletins are sent to Recorders at Lincolnshire Environmental Records Centre [GNLP] , Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union and Lincolnshire Bird Club. [Note: Where plants are reported, this is usually because they have been seen and identified in flower.] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 10. BULLETIN PUBLICITY POLICY ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ We sometimes withhold details of rare or endangered species. Please point out any sensitive or "tricky" reports of this kind. Sensitive data should go directly to county recorders, please. When sending in reports, e.g. unusual plants, please report any sensitive news directly to recorders. Not the Bulletin. We don't want to spoil things with untimely or unwise publicity. Thank you. Please respect the interests of wildlife and site owners if you report on national networks. Interest in wildlife is not a licence to act irresponsibly or thoughtlessly to landowners, who may well be partners in important conservation work. Codes of Conduct Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. BSBI Code of Conduct https://bsbi.org/wp-content/uploads/dlm_uploads/BSBI-Code-of-Conduct.pdf RSPB's birdwatchers' code https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/read-and-learn/watching-birds/code/ [Remember: Views expressed in the Bulletin do not necessarily reflect the policies or opinions of the LNU or associated organisations. In particular this applies to such agencies, especially charities, taking a political stance.] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 11. LNU EVENTS DIARY ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** LNU Events - Important updates *** We will post any changes to LNU events through the Bulletin; the LNU Twitter feed; LNU Facebook page and LNU meetings webpage. Please refer to the LNU website for details of any Zoom arrangements for watching online. LNU Meetings 2022: https://lnu.org/meetings Charlie Barnes writes: The changing nature of the Covid situation may mean alterations or cancellations at short notice, so check back regularly and keep an eye on Twitter and Facebook for updates. For more details on the times and locations see the website at: https://lnu.org/meetings/field-meetings/ Field Meetings: 9th October: Epworth Turbary LWT Reserve (Annual Fungus Foray) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 12 ...AND FINALLY... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** MailFails Last Week *** Nigel Sardeson Advice is: If your Service provider can't or won't allow the Bulletin through, use a free email account instead. In the event of a mail failure ask me for the error report to pass on to your "Help Desk". I am glad to help. ....and finally... Chris Packham backs bid to save 30-year-old tree from development https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-62995830 The week in wildlife - in pictures https://www.theguardian.com/environment/gallery/2022/sep/23/the-week-in-wildlife-in-pictures Government review of ELMS farming subsidies stokes anger https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-63029266 Green charities urge millions of members to oppose Tories' 'attack on nature' https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/sep/27/green-charities-urge-millions-of-members-to-oppose-tories-attack-on-nature North Yorkshire puts seaweed at the heart of its carbon-negative ambitions https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/sep/27/north-yorkshire-puts-seaweed-at-the-heart-of-its-carbon-negative-ambitions Paths of discovery in South Yorkshire: natural and historical wonders meet on Hatfield Moors https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2022/sep/27/hatfield-moors-peat-mire-walks-wildlife-south-yorkshire-doncaster Climate change risk to coastal castles - English Heritage https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-62995598 Study contradicts Rees-Mogg over hydrogen for heating https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-63050910 Wildlife protection helps species thrive in Europe - report https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-63037556 More than half of the world's palm trees in danger https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-63038597 Rare single malt Macallan whisky up for auction at £110,000 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-63048464 ----------- ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons old.museum@yahoo.co.uk http://rogerparsons.info/